Hours separate deadly Arizona plane crashes

The Associated Press

SEDONA, Ariz. — Only a few hours separated two fiery small plane crashes in northern Arizona that left six people dead over the weekend, authorities said.

The first was reported around 3 p.m. local time Sunday, when hikers in the Bear Mountain area reported the crash and a possible fire, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office said four died in the crash near Sedona.

The sheriff’s office says fire crews found the single-engine plane about 6 p.m. in Fay Canyon.

The Arizona Republic reported that firefighters, including helicopters and ground crews, responded.

In northern Arizona’s Mohave County near the Utah border, authorities said a small plane crashed, killing two people.

Sgt. John T. Bottoms of the Arizona Department of Public Safety told Salt Lake City’s KSL-TV that the crash occurred about 6:30 PDT.

The FAA says that the plane went down “under unknown circumstances” and was on fire.

Bottoms said that crews hiked to reach the plane, which was on a ledge, and used water backpacks to extinguish the blaze.

There was no word Sunday on the identities of any of the dead or the causes of the crashes. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate both crashes.